Not currently on display at the V&A

Joan Dowling as Aladdin

Caricature
1951-1952 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Joan Dowling (1927-1954) as Aladdin at the Oxford New Theatre during Christmas 1951. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJoan Dowling as Aladdin (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil, ink and watercolour on paper
Brief description
Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Joan Dowling as Aladdin at the New Theatre Oxford, Christmas 1951.
Physical description
Pencil, ink and watercolour caricature of Joan Dowling as Aladdin at the New Theatre Oxford, Christmas 1951. Dated . From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
This caricature comes from an album of caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert J.Sommerlad (1904-1976) between December 1951 and October 1957 at the Oxford New Theatre. Gilbert Sommerlad moved from Brighton to the recently built New Theatre, Oxford, to join his brother Roy (violin and clarinet) as resident pianist in 1936. He continued with his caricatures until his retirement.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Joan Dowling (1927-1954) as Aladdin at the Oxford New Theatre during Christmas 1951. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.
Collection
Accession number
S.132:1-2002

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Record createdNovember 27, 2003
Record URL
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